Device for protecting banks from robbery



April 20 1926. 1,581,319 I E. E. PAULEY DEVICE FOR PROTECTING BANKS FROM ROBBERY I Filed Sept. 1, 1925 Patented Apr. 20,. 1926.

UNITED STATES EDWARD E. PAULEY, OF MARION, INDIANA.

DEVICE FOR PROTECTING BANKS FROM ROBBERY.

Application filed September 1, 1925. Serial No. 53,936.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, EDWARD E. PAULEY, a citizen of the United States, residing at Marion, in the county of Grant and State of Indiana, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Devices for Protecting Banks from Robbery, of which the following is a. specification, reference being had to the accompanying drawings.

This invention relates to devices for protecting banks and other institutions from robbery and more particularly to a cage for housing the watchman employed by the institution as a guard.

An important object of the invention is to provide a device of this character which may be placed in an inaccessible position and within which the guard will be fully protected against fire-arms in the hands of would-be robbers.

A further object of the invention is to provide means whereby the guard, while positioned out of range of fire-arms in the hands of persons, within the institution may be observed by these persons and may inturn observe these persons without exposing himself.

These and other objects I attain by the construction shown in the accompanying drawing, wherein for the purpose of illustration is shown a preferred embodiment of my invention and wherein The figure is a perspective view of a device constructed in accordance with my invention, partially broken away to show one of the loop hole protectors.

Referring now more particularly to the drawing, the device comprises a metal cage 10 adapted to be supported by depending standards'll from the ceiling of the enclosure to'be guarded. Access to this cage may be had by means of a rope ladder 13 or the like which, after entry of the guard to the cage, may be drawn into the cage to prevent access thereto. This cage is provided with a plurality of loop holes 14 at the sides and bottom thereof, through which the muzzle of a firearm may be extended,

these openings being so arranged that the entire floor area of the institution may be covered. About this cage may be arranged the wires 15 of an alarm, these Wires connecting by a manually operable switch 16 closing the circuit of the alarm.

Each of the loop holes 14; has associated therewith a closure plate 17 pivoted to the wall of the structure, as at 18, and swingable to close the loop hole with which it is associated so as to prevent passage of missile therethrough. One or more of the standards 11 has slidably mounted thereon collars 19 having arms 20 extending therefrom and jointed, as at 21, for the purpose of supporting mirrors 22. These mirrors may be adjusted by the jointed connection at 21 so that they provide a view of the interior of the institution while the guard is concealed within the cage. It will, of course, be obvious that the movements of the guard may be noted in these mirrors, thus providing a means whereby the oflicers of the institutilon may determine whether the guard is a ert.

It will furthermore be obvious that the construction hereinbefore set forth is capable of a certain range of change and modification without materially departing from the spirit of the invention and I accordingly do not limit myself to such specific structure except as hereinafter claimed.

I claim In combination with a bank or vault room, a metallic cage suspended from the vault room ceiling, withdrawable means controlling access to the cage, loop holes in the walls and bottom of the cage commanding the entire floor area of the room and reflectors positionable to permit a View of the floor of the room by a person disposed within the cage and a view of the interior of the cage by persons disposed upon the floor of the room.

In testimony whereof I hereunto afiix my signature.

EDWARD E. PAULEY. 

